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J. DONOVAN. RAILWAY VELUGIPBDB.

. 2' Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

Patented Feb. 13, 1894.KV

(No Model.) 2 Sheets- Sheet 2. J. DONOVAN. RAILWAYVELOGIPEDB.

` Patented Feb; 13,1894.

EI-l

UNITED STATES PATENT JAMES DONOVA, OF THREE RIVER-S, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE ROB- ERTS, THROP & COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

nAiI WAv-vEnociPi-:ne

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 514,449, dated February I3, 1894.

Application filed September 26, 1893- Serial No. 486,531. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern..-

Be itknown that I, JAMES DONOVAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Three Rivers, in the county of St. Joseph and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful'lmprovernentsin Ralway-Velocipedes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

Theinvention consists in the peculiar construction of the frame, the seat support, the drive mechanism, and further in the peculiar construction, arrangement Vand combination of the various parts.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation ot` my improved machine. Fig. 2 is a plan View thereot` with the seat, and part of the driving gear removed. Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line o; a: Fig. 2. Figa is a longitudinal section on line y y Fig. 2. Fig. 5 isa perspective view of the parts shown in Figzet detached. Fig. 6 is a section on line e e in Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a section on line u, u Fig. 2. Fig. 8 is a section on line o o, Fig. '7. Fig. 9 is a section on line w w Fig. 2.

My machine comprises a rigid traine snpported by two track wheels in line, and an auxiliary Wheel supported on a frame or ontrigger, running on the opposite rail. The trarne consists of the straight side bar A on the inside oi the wheels Vand the side bar B on the outside ot the wheels, the side bar B having the central odset section C between the' wheels formed by the bends C', as plainly shown in Fig. 2.

D is the drive wheel and D its companion wheel at the forward end of the traine. These Wheels are journaled on shafts E,which serve as tie-rods to connect the ends of the frame together. The shafts E are supported in longitudinally adjustable boxes F on the frame. These boxes are provided with clamping bolts -F which pass through longitudinal slots F2 in the side bars of Ithe frame and through apertures Fi3 in adjusting bolts G which slidingly engage in the ends of the side bars, the side bars being tubular.

G is a nut for adjusting the bolt G and G2 are clamping nuts for clamping the boxes F 1n their adjusted positions. I preferably arrange a curved plate or washer G3 beneath the nuts G2. This construction enables me to adjust the ends ot the axle separately so as to perfectly align the Wheels and at the saine time to adjust the rear axle to and from the crank shaft H to tighten the drive chain H. This drive chain passes over the sprocket pinion I, which is secured to the hub ot' the rear wheel or to a'sleeve to which that hub is secured, as shown in Fig. 6, and over the sprocket wheel J on the drive shaft H. The drive shaft is journaled in boxes on the under side of the frame, centrally between the wheels and atits end is formed or provided with cranks K, by which power is applied through the hand levers L and connecting rods L. At the ends ot the cranks K are the pedal cranks M provided with suitable pedals and adapted for foot propulsion, the four cranks being set at quarters around the drive shaft. The handle levers L are journaled at the lower end of a bracket O depend- ,ing below the frame and serving as a tie for the side bars in rear ot the front wheels.

P is a saddle post carryingat its upper end a suitable saddle P and at its lower end bifurcated, as shown in Fig. 9, the bifurcations P2 extending to each side ot the traine, being secured in position by the clamping bolt Q, which at the saine time acts as a tie for the side bars of the frame in front of the rear Wheel, and which are spaced apart by the sleeve Q between the side bars, th rough which the bolt passes.

The Outrigger consists of the two braces R R secured respectively to opposite ends of the inner side bar and adj nstably secured together near their outer ends, one of the bars carrying the flanged guide wheel S journaled on a suitable stub shaft. It will be observed that the weight of the rider is sustained upon the inner side bar and the ottset section C ot' the outside side bar, which brings nearly his entire weight inside the frame and still supporting it upon the traine. Supporting the Weight of the rider on the frame enables me to use a light Outrigger, and bringing his Weight inside of the wheels prevents danger of accident in going around curves.

The saddle post l preferably brace by means of braces S extending to the ends of the side bars and secured in position by the clamping bolts G.

The central section ot the frame I truss by TOO means of truss rods T made in sections having their inner ends connected to the box T', 1n which the crank shaft is journaled, as plainly shown in Fig. 8, the outer ends of the sectlons being attached to the under side of the side bars by suitable bolts, as shown in Fig. 1. This construction of crank enables me to apply power by both hands and feet.

Many accidents happen inthe use of railway velocipedes from the fact that the noise which the wheels make upon the rails pre- Vents the rider from hearing an approaching train until too late to escape. To overcome this difculty and to make the wheels noiseless I apply with cement or in any other suitable manner to the rim of the wheel a nonmetallic covering U extending from the outer edge of the wheel rim to the edge of the flange and forming the tread of the wheel. This strip or band I preferably make of canvas and rubber substantially like rubber belting.

I have foundin use that the only noise which such a velocipede will make will be the noise due tothe touching of the wheel flange upon the inner face of the rail, the velocipede going practically noiselessly.

What I claim as my invention is- .1. In a railway velocipede, the combination with the wheels, of a frame supported on the wheels composed of a straight inner bar and an outer bar, the outer bar having a central section bent inwardly between the Wheels, and a seat supported ou both bars, substantially as described.

2. In a railway velocipede, the combination with the frame comprisinga straight inner bar and an inwardly bent outer bar forming a central oifset portion, of shafts connecting the ends of the frame, wheels journaled on the shafts, and tie rods connecting the inner bar with the central offset portion of the outer bar, substantially as described.

3. In a railway velocipede,-the combination with the frame comprising a straight inner bar and an inwardly bent outer bar forming a central oEset portion, of shafts connecting the ends of the frame, wheels journaled on the shafts, tie rods connecting the inner bar with the central odset portion of the ou ter bar, and spacing blocks on the tie rods between the bars, substantially as described.

4. In a railway velocipede, the combination of the wheeled frame composed of tubular side bars tied together, of axles supporting the wheels, boxes kon the frame in which said axles engage, a slotted bearing in the ends of the side bars, clamping bolts on the boxes engaglng through said slots, and adjusting bolts in the ends of the bars, through which said bolts pass, substantially as described.

5. In a railway velocipede, the combination with the wheels and frame, ot' a drive mechanism comprising a shaft having U cranks on its opposite ends between the endsfandcenter, hand levers connected to the cranks, crank arms fixed to the out-er ends of the shaft beyond the cranks, and arranged at an angle to the cranks, and pedals on the crank arms, substantially as described.

6. In a railway velocipede, the combination of the wheeled frame composed of tubular side bars tied together, of axles supporting the wheels, boxes on the frame in which said axles engage, a slotted bearing in the ends of the side bars, clamping bolts on the boxes engaging through said slots adjusting bolts in the ends of the bars through which said bolts pass, nuts on the end of the clamping bolts, and curved washers between the nuts and side bars, substantially as described.

' In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES DONOVAN.

Witnesses:

JAMES E. BUNN, MARVIN H. BUMPHREY. 

